Rebreather Diving in Japan

Stralachlan

Apologies for hijacking the thread - work is sending me to Tokyo late Aug 08, and consequently wrecking any Aug Bank Holiday plans I had.

I could fly out before the meetings to do some diving over the weekend 23-26 Aug. Is it even remotely possbile to organise any Rebreather diving as a visitor? I'd need lime, oxygen & air (or trimix if deep diving). I can bring my own cylinders but these are UK spec - any problems filling them?

Abbo

Generally, Japanese shops only fill Japanese tanks. Tanaka Mitsuyoshi at Blue Quest is the man you need to speak to: he can rent equipment and fill tanks. He can fix you up with scrubber too. He may be in Ohshima that week doing 100+ dives, and if he is I hope to join. One way or another, you should be able to get some decent dives in, so bring your toys.
Cheers,
Nicholas

Loanwolf

I have not had too many problems diving in Japan. My last road trip in Japan I spent 3 month diving all around the Izu Peninsula down the coast to Shikoku Island and all around the island and had no problems to speak of. I do not use shops or dive boats. I shore dive with a dive yak, some times using climbing gear to get down to the water and jugging the gear back up to get to a great looking spot, or go into a fishing village and higher a local fisherman to take me out. I have never ran into too many problems. But I have found that I have better luck when traveling by myself. If their are two or more foreigners we get avoided. Even if I have a Japanese girlfriend with me it is not the same. If i am alone everyone goes out of their way to help me and wants to know who I am and why I am travailing alone. I put close to 60,000 km on a Delica in just under a year traveling around diving, hiking, and climbing (the auto auctions are great! got a Delica Space Gear van for $2,500 that had 16,000 km on it). I must say I love Japan and the diving is great and diversified so is the whole country. Take the Izu Peninsula in a few hours drive you can have a 20+F change in water temperatures in places. You will love it if you get the time to travel and dive.

I have never for the most part had too many problems getting gas or anything else I have needed. Every new area I go into and plan on basing out of I go to the Prefecture office first then the city office's and get all the area info in English and spend few hours talking to them and going though the phone book to find the local companies that have the information and resources I need. They are great about helping you out. As far as police I have only had a few incidents occur. For the most part they thought I was taking too big of a risk with my life and didn't feel it was right and after a little talking everything is fine. We have a laugh and I usually get invited to dinner and am hungover as hell the next day.

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